Garment for Dialysis Patients

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a garment that includes a neck opening, a front portion, a back portion, and a first and second opposing sleeve portions, and a first, second, third and fourth closable openings. The first and second closable openings extend substantially from a cuff to a shoulder end of the first sleeve portion or the neck opening. The third and fourth closable opening extend substantially from the neck opening to an underarm portion of a first side of the front portion. The garment may also include a pair of pants having a first pant and a second pant each having a front portion and a back portion, and a first and second closable openings extending substantially from an abdomen area to a knee area or ankle area of the front portion of the first and second pants.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This patent application is a non-provisional application of U.S. provisional patent application 60/776,254 filed on Feb. 24, 2006 and entitled “Garment for Dialysis Patients,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of garments and, more particularly, to a garment worn by a patient during dialysis treatments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many people, both adults and children, require ongoing medical treatment in which medical practitioners must access certain areas of the body. The medical treatments may be, but are not limited to, dialysis, chemotherapy, post operative treatment and attention to diagnostic equipment. Often these treatments require the patient to expose private areas of their body for extended periods of time in a semi-public area (e.g., a room or ward with other patients without any walls or curtains) because the attending medical personal must visually monitor the treatment area. As a result, the patient must endure the embarrassment and indignity of being partially naked in addition to enduring the medical treatment. For example, a woman undergoing a dialysis treatment may be required to expose her breast for several hours. Since each treatment can last several hours and these treatments can go on for years, they create an ongoing source of anxiety that can affect the mental state of the patient, which may reduce the successfulness of the treatments.

Although the medical facilities could provide garments or gowns for the patients, this would increase the cost of the treatments and lengthen the time the patient has to be at the facility. In addition, the patients would likely feel even more uncomfortable. Alternatively, several specialty garments have been designed to provide access to a patient's treatment areas. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,763 provides access to the chest region, but completely exposes the breast; U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,279 provides a surgical garment, but does not have openings in the correct place or look like “street clothes”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,851 provides a garment for handicapped or elderly individuals, but does not have openings in the correct place or look like “street clothes”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,710 provides a garment for concealing medical appliances, but does not have openings in the correct place or look like “street clothes”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,552 provides garment having flaps to expose certain areas of the body, but exposes large areas of the body with unwieldy and unattractive flaps. These designs, however, do not really solve the problem because they expose a larger area of the body than is necessary, are not flexible enough to provide access to the most commonly used areas of the body for ongoing medical treatments and/or use unwieldy and unattractive flaps. Moreover all these designs look like “patient” clothes; they do not look like “street clothes.”

Accordingly, there is a need for a garment that is attractive, looks like “street clothes”, provides access to the most commonly used areas of the body for ongoing medical treatments, does not expose too much of the body and thus maintains the privacy and dignity of the patent. All of which will improve the mental state of the patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a garment that is attractive, looks like “street clothes”, provides access to the most commonly used areas of the body for ongoing medical treatments, does not expose too much of the body and thus maintains the privacy and dignity of the patent. All of which will improve the mental state of the patient.

More specifically, the present invention provides a garment (e.g., jacket, shirt, blouse, pullover, warm-up suit top, jogging suit top, sweat suit top, etc.) that includes a neck opening, a front portion, a back portion, and a first and second opposing sleeve portions, and a first, second, third and fourth closable openings. The first closable opening extends substantially from a cuff to a shoulder end of the first sleeve portion or the neck opening. The second closable opening extends substantially from a cuff to a shoulder end of the second sleeve portion or the neck opening. The third closable opening extends substantially from the neck opening to an underarm portion of a first side of the front portion. The fourth closable opening extends substantially from the neck opening to an underarm portion of a second side of the front portion. First, second, third and fourth closable openings can be secured with one or more fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro®, etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, first, second, third and fourth closable openings are preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination thereof.

In addition, the present invention provides a garment that includes a pair of pants (e.g., slacks, warm-up suit bottom, jogging suit bottom, sweat suit bottom, etc.) having a first pant and a second pant each having a front portion and a back portion, a first closable opening extending substantially from an abdomen area to a knee area or ankle area of the front portion of the first pant, and a second closable opening extending substantially from the abdomen area to a knee area or an ankle area of the front portion of the second pant. First and second closable openings can be secured with one or more fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro®, etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, first and second closable openings are preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination thereof.

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and further advantages of the invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D illustrate a patient undergoing dialysis treatments wearing a garment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a garment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a garment in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a garment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a garment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. The discussion herein relates primarily to garments for dialysis patients, but it will be understood that the concepts of the present invention are applicable to any garment that provides medical access to a patient while maintaining the privacy of the patient.

Now referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, a patient undergoing dialysis treatments wearing a garment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention are shown. In FIG. 1A, a dialysis machine 100 is connected to a catheter 102 (not specifically shown) via tubes 104 that is surgically implanted in the central right (or left) of the upper chest area of the patient 106. As will be described in more detail in reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the garment 108 (e.g., jacket, shirt, blouse, pullover, warm-up suit top, jogging suit top, sweat suit top, etc.) includes a (fourth) closeable opening 110 extending substantially from a neck opening 112 to an underarm portion 114. Closable opening 110 provides adequate access (visual and physical) to the treatment area while maintaining as much of the patient's privacy as possible. Closable opening 110 can be secured with one or more fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro®, etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, closable opening 110 is preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination thereof.

In FIG. 1B, a dialysis machine 100 is connected to a fistula 116 (not specifically shown) via tubes 104 that is surgically implanted in the right (or left) wrist to forearm area 118 of the patient 106. As will be described in more detail in reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the garment 108 (e.g., jacket, shirt, blouse, pullover, warm-up suit top, jogging suit top, sweat suit top, etc.) includes a (second) closeable opening 120 extending substantially from a cuff 122 to a shoulder end 124 of a (second) sleeve portion 126. Alternatively, the closeable opening 120 can extend substantially from the cuff 122 to the neck opening 112. Closable opening 120 provides adequate access (visual and physical) to the treatment area while maintaining as much of the patient's privacy as possible. Closable opening 120 can be secured with one or more fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro®, etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, closable opening 120 is preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination thereof.

In FIG. 1C, a dialysis machine 100 is connected to a fistula 128 (not specifically shown) via tubes 104 that is surgically implanted in the right (or left) upper arm of the patient 106. As will be described in more detail in reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the garment 108 (e.g., jacket, shirt, blouse, pullover, warm-up suit top, jogging suit top, sweat suit top, etc.) includes a (second) closeable opening 120 extending substantially from a cuff 122 to a shoulder end 124 of a (second) sleeve portion 126 (shown pulled back along side or behind the patient 106). Alternatively, the closeable opening 120 can extend substantially from the cuff 122 to the neck opening 112. Closable opening 120 provides adequate access (visual and physical) to the treatment area while maintaining as much of the patient's privacy as possible. Closable opening 120 can be secured with one or more fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro®, etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, closable opening 120 is preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination thereof.

In FIG. 1D, a dialysis machine 100 is connected to a fistula 130 (not specifically shown) via tubes 104 that is surgically implanted in the right (or left) upper leg area of the patient 106. As will be described in more detail in reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the garment 132 (e.g., pants, slacks, warm-up suit bottom, jogging suit bottom, sweat suit bottom, etc.) includes a (second) closeable opening 134 extending substantially from an abdomen area 136 to a knee area 138 of a first pant 140. Alternatively, the closeable opening 120 can extend substantially from the abdomen area 136 to an ankle area 142 of the first pant 140. Closable opening 134 provides adequate access (visual and physical) to the treatment area while maintaining as much of the patient's privacy as possible. Closable opening 134 can be secured with one or more fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro®, etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, closable opening 134 is preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a garment 200 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The garment 200 (e.g., jacket, shirt, blouse, pullover, warm-up suit top, jogging suit top, sweat suit top, etc.) includes a neck opening 112, a front portion 202, a back portion (not shown), a first 204 and second 206 opposing sleeve portions, and a first 208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214 closable openings. The first closable opening 208 extends substantially from a cuff 216 to a shoulder end 218 of the first sleeve portion 204. Alternatively, the first closable opening 208 can extend substantially from the cuff 216 to the neck opening 112. The second closable opening 210 extends substantially from a cuff 220 to a shoulder end 222 of the second sleeve portion 206. Alternatively, the second closable opening 210 can extend substantially from the cuff 220 to the neck opening 112. The third closable opening 212 extends substantially from the neck opening 112 to an underarm portion 224 of a first side 226 of the front portion 202. The fourth closable opening 214 extends substantially from the neck opening 112 to an underarm portion 228 of a second side 230 of the front portion 202. As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, the first 208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214 closable openings are positioned to facilitate medical treatments (e.g., dialysis, etc.) and provide adequate access (visual and physical) to the treatment area while maintaining as much of the patient's privacy as possible. First 208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214 closable openings can be secured with one or more fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro®, etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, first 208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214 closable openings are preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination thereof. As a result, first 208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214 closable openings combine to provide an aesthetic appeal that is indistinguishable from “street clothes” and does not look like medical related clothes. A variety of decorative, comfortable, stylish and/or warm fabrics can be used. Note that garment 200 may include a front fastener 232 and pockets 234. Alternatively, the garment 200 can be pocketless or a pullover design with or without a top tie string, button, zipper, etc.

Now referring to FIG. 3, a garment 300 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The garment 300 (e.g., jacket, shirt, blouse, pullover, warm-up suit top, jogging suit top, sweat suit top, etc.) includes a neck opening 112, a front portion 202, a back portion (not shown), a first 204 and second 206 opposing sleeve portions, and a first 208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214 closable openings. The first closable opening 208 extends substantially from a cuff 216 to a shoulder end 218 of the first sleeve portion 204. Alternatively, the first closable opening 208 can extend substantially from the cuff 216 to the neck opening 112. The second closable opening 210 extends substantially from a cuff 220 to a shoulder end 222 of the second sleeve portion 206. Alternatively, the second closable opening 210 can extend substantially from the cuff 220 to the neck opening 112. The third closable opening 212 extends substantially from the neck opening 112 to an underarm portion 224 of a first side 226 of the front portion 202. The fourth closable opening 214 extends substantially from the neck opening 112 to an underarm portion 228 of a second side 230 of the front portion 202. As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, the first 208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214 closable openings are positioned to facilitate medical treatments (e.g., dialysis, etc.) and provide adequate access (visual and physical) to the treatment area while maintaining as much of the patient's privacy as possible. First 208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214 closable openings can be secured with one or more fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro®, etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, first 208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214 closable openings are preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination thereof. As a result, first 208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214 closable openings combine to provide an aesthetic appeal that is indistinguishable from “street clothes” and does not look like medical related clothes. A variety of decorative, comfortable, stylish and/or warm fabrics can be used. Note that garment 300 may include a front fastener 232 and pockets 234. Alternatively, the garment 300 can be pocketless or a pullover design with or without a top tie string, button, zipper, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a garment 400 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The garment 400 includes a pair of pants (e.g., slacks, warm-up suit bottom, jogging suit bottom, sweat suit bottom, etc.) having a first pant 402 and a second pant 404 each having a front portion 406 and a back portion (not shown), a first closable opening 408 extending substantially from an abdomen area 410 to a knee area 412 of the front portion 406 of the first pant 402, and a second closable opening 414 extending substantially from the abdomen area 416 to a knee area 418 of the front portion 406 of the second pant 404. Alternatively, the first closeable opening 408 can extend substantially from the abdomen area 410 to an ankle area 420 of the first pant 402 and the second closeable opening 414 can extend substantially from the abdomen area 416 to an ankle area 422 of the second pant 404. As shown in FIG. 1D, the first 408 and second 414 closable openings are positioned to facilitate medical treatments (e.g., dialysis, etc.) and provide adequate access (visual and physical) to the treatment area while maintaining as much of the patient's privacy as possible. First 408 and second 414 closable openings can be secured with one or more fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro®, etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, first 408 and second 414 closable openings are preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination thereof. As a result, first 408 and second 414 closable openings combine to provide an aesthetic appeal that is indistinguishable from “street clothes” and does not look like medical related clothes. A variety of decorative, comfortable, stylish and/or warm fabrics can be used. Note that garment 400 may include an elastic pullup design 424 and pockets 426. Alternatively, the garment 400 can be pocketless or include front fastener with or without a tie string, button, zipper, etc.

Now referring to FIG. 5, a garment 500 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The garment 500 includes a pair of pants (e.g., slacks, warm-up suit bottom, jogging suit bottom, sweat suit bottom, etc.) having a first pant 402 and a second pant 404 each having a front portion 406 and a back portion (not shown), a first closable opening 408 extending substantially from an abdomen area 410 to a knee area 412 of the front portion 406 of the first pant 402, and a second closable opening 414 extending substantially from the abdomen area 416 to a knee area 418 of the front portion 406 of the second pant 404. Alternatively, the first closeable opening 408 can extend substantially from the abdomen area 410 to an ankle area 420 of the first pant 402 and the second closeable opening 414 can extend substantially from the abdomen area 416 to an ankle area 422 of the second pant 404. In addition, garment 500 may include fasteners 502 on each pant 402 and 404 to convert the garment 500 from long pants to shorts. As shown in FIG. 1D, the first 408 and second 414 closable openings are positioned to facilitate medical treatments (e.g., dialysis, etc.) and provide adequate access (visual and physical) to the treatment area while maintaining as much of the patient's privacy as possible. First 408 and second 414 closable openings can be secured with one or more fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro®, etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, first 408 and second 414 closable openings are preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination thereof. As a result, first 408 and second 414 closable openings combine to provide an aesthetic appeal that is indistinguishable from “street clothes” and does not look like medical related clothes. A variety of decorative, comfortable, stylish and/or warm fabrics can be used. Note that garment 500 may include a front fastener 504, such as a tie string, button, zipper, etc.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 

1. A garment comprising: a jacket having a neck opening, a front portion, a back portion, and a first and second opposing sleeve portions; a first closable opening extending substantially from a cuff to a shoulder end of the first sleeve portion; a second closable opening extending substantially from a cuff to a shoulder end of the second sleeve portion; a third closable opening extending substantially from the neck opening to an underarm portion of a first side of the front portion; and a fourth closable opening extending substantially from the neck opening to an underarm portion of a second side of the front portion.
 2. The garment as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth closable openings are positioned to facilitate dialysis treatments.
 3. The garment as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth closable openings are: secured with a fastener; or hidden by a seam, a flap or a combination thereof.
 4. The garment as recited in claim 3, wherein the fastener comprises one or more zippers, hook and loop tape, snaps, buttons or a combination thereof.
 5. The garment as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second closable openings extend substantially from the cuff to the neck opening.
 6. The garment as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more decorative designs on the jacket.
 7. The garment as recited in claim 1, wherein the jacket comprises a pullover, a warm-up suit top, a jogging suit top or a sweat suit top.
 8. A garment comprising: a pair of pants comprising a first pant and a second pant each having a front portion and a back portion; a first closable opening extending substantially from an abdomen area to a knee area of the front portion of the first pant; and a second closable opening extending substantially from the abdomen area to a knee area of the front portion of the second pant.
 9. The garment as recited in claim 8, wherein each of the first and second closable openings are positioned to facilitate dialysis treatments.
 10. The garment as recited in claim 8, wherein each of the first and second closable openings are: secured with a fastener; or hidden by a seam, a flap or a combination thereof.
 11. The garment as recited in claim 10, wherein the fastener comprises one or more zippers, hook and loop tape, snaps, buttons or a combination thereof.
 12. The garment as recited in claim 8, wherein the first and second closable openings extend substantially from the abdomen area to an ankle area.
 13. The garment as recited in claim 8, further comprising one or more decorative designs on the pants.
 14. The garment as recited in claim 8, wherein the pants comprises a pullover, a warm-up suit bottom, a jogging suit bottom or sweat suit bottom.
 15. A garment comprising: a jacket having a neck opening, a front portion, a back portion, a first and second opposing sleeve portions, a first closable opening extending substantially from a cuff to a shoulder end of the first sleeve portion, a second closable opening extending substantially from a cuff to a shoulder end of the second sleeve portion, a third closable opening extending substantially from the neck opening to an underarm portion of a first side of the front portion, and a fourth closable opening extending substantially from the neck opening to an underarm portion of a second side of the front portion; and a pair of pants comprising a first pant and a second pant each having a front portion and a back portion, a fifth closable opening extending substantially from an abdomen area to a knee area of the front portion of the first pant, and a sixth closable opening extending substantially from the abdomen area to a knee area of the front portion of the second pant.
 16. The garment as recited in claim 15 wherein each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth closable openings are positioned to facilitate dialysis treatments.
 17. The garment as recited in claim 15, wherein each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth closable openings are: secured with a fastener; or hidden by a seam, a flap or a combination thereof.
 18. The garment as recited in claim 17, wherein the fastener comprises one or more zippers, hook and loop tape, snaps, buttons or a combination thereof.
 19. The garment as recited in claim 15, wherein: the first and second closable openings extend substantially from the cuff to the neck opening; and the fifth and sixth closable openings extend substantially from the abdomen area to an ankle area.
 20. The garment as recited in claim 15, further comprising one or more decorative designs on the jacket or pants.
 21. The garment as recited in claim 15, wherein the garment comprises a warm-up suit, a jogging suit or a sweat suit. 